The most poignant moment for me thus far has been the juxtaposition between Emily Seebohm's distress at coming 2nd in the Women's 100m Backstroke, and Bronte Barratt's elation at coming 3rd in the Women's 200m Freestyle.

Whilst one result was materially better than the other, the swimmer who achieved a lesser placing was elated, whilst the other, who felt she had a certain sense of entitlement to win, was mortified by coming 2nd. Not only did that attitude sour her own experience, but it also serves as an insult to the rest of the field who didn't win Gold or Silver, or to those who didn't even make it through to the final.

Hope they won't raise the Israeli flag when the Iranians are on...like they did for the North Koreans...

Bhikkhus, if you develop and make much this one thing, it invariably leads to weariness, cessation, appeasement, realization and extinction. What is it? It is recollecting the Enlightened One. If this single thing is recollected and made much, it invariably leads to weariness, cessation, appeasement, realization and extinction.Anguttara-Nikaya: Ekanipata: Ekadhammapali: PañhamavaggaBuddhanussatiSCVSMVMMBS

retrofuturist wrote:Whilst one result was materially better than the other, the swimmer who achieved a lesser placing was elated, whilst the other, who felt she had a certain sense of entitlement to win, was mortified by coming 2nd. Not only did that attitude sour her own experience, but it also serves as an insult to the rest of the field who didn't win Gold or Silver, or to those who didn't even make it through to the final.

Yes, it's interesting to see the reactions of the athletes after winning and "losing". I think it comes down to of course their attitude and also the expectations, some of which are unreasonable. Yesterday Michael Phelps won the silver and was visibly 'upset' with the silver. It is nice to see the elation in those that win the silver and bronze and are still as happy as can be. It is easy to have mudita for them. I know I would sure be happy with a bronze in anything, but that could also be because I don't expect to perform at that level.

In one of the previous Olympic Games an American won the gold in a swimming event and was very upset. He was upset that he didn't break the world record while doing so. He later apologized on tv to the people who were disappointed at his reaction.

I was wondering if you knew that reputable psychological studies have been done on the phenomenon of more positive emotions being felt and expressed by bronze winners than silver winners. The best-known is Medvec et al from Cornell University. It is quoted in Richard Layard's little book "Happiness: Lessons from a new science", and is used to demonstrate the huge role that expectations and social comparisons have in the construction of our happiness. The silvers are upset that they didn't win gold, whereas the bronzes are often delighted to be on the podium at all. As Layard points out, the same issues bedevil our struggles with status and income and possessions in everyday life.